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Book Cover
E-book
Author Adams, Michael, 1961-

Title Slang : the people's poetry / Michael Adams
Published Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2009

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Description 1 online resource (xv, 238 pages)
Contents "What it is?" : the essentials of slang -- Fitting in : the social dynamics of slang -- Standing out : aesthetic dimensions of slang -- It's all in your head : cognitive aspects of slang
Summary Adams covers this perennially interesting subject in a serious but highly engaging way, illuminating the fundamental question of what is slang and defending slang--and all forms of nonstandard English--as integral parts of the American language. He reveals that slang is used in part to define groups, distinguishing those who are "down with it" from those who are "out of it." Slang is also a rebellion against the mainstream. It often irritates those who color within the lines--indeed, slang is meant to irritate, sometimes even to shock. But slang is also inventive language, both fun to make and fun to use. Rather than complain about slang as "bad" language, Adams urges us to celebrate slang's playful resistance to the commonplace and to see it as the expression of an innate human capacity, not only for language, but for poetry.--From publisher description
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212 MiAaHDL
English
Print version record
digitized 2010 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve pda MiAaHDL
Subject English language -- Slang.
English language -- Jargon.
Rhyming slang.
Poetry
poetry.
LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES -- General.
English language -- Jargon
English language -- Slang
Poetry
Rhyming slang
Form Electronic book
LC no. 2008028923
ISBN 9780198042945
0198042949
1283588943
9781283588942
9786613901392
6613901393
Other Titles People's poetry